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(11) | EP 4 512 350 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | LOW PROFILE ELECTRODES FOR A SHOCK WAVE CATHETER |
| (57) The present invention provides a system and method for treating tight, hard-to-cross
calcified lesions in which an angioplasty balloon (102) is used to dilate the lesions
and provide shock waves to restore normal blood flow in a patient's artery. An exemplary
device (100) includes an elongated tube (104) and a balloon (102) wrapped circumferentially
around the tube (104) and sealed to a distal end of the tube (104). During treatment,
the device (100) is advanced into a patient's vasculature and the balloon (102) is
inflated with conductive fluid such that the balloon (102) is fixed to walls of the
vasculature proximal to the calcified lesion. The balloon (102) includes at least
one low-profile emitter positioned near the distal end of the balloon (102), which
may be activated to generate shock waves to break loose calcifications in the lesion.
After calcium in the tight lesion has been modified, the balloon (102) can be deflated
and advanced further into the lesion to continue treatment.
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